Perspective is Everything.

Category Archives: LET’S TALK

Tunnel vision. We’ve all been there…done that. Sometimes good. Sometimes, not so good. Focus is important. We all need to stay focused on what is important in our lives…but what if that tunnel vision creates such a blindness that we only see the light ahead, and not those who are helping us along the way. Then what good is the goal?

Like this:

When I first published my very first post on this blog, I had no idea what these three words would lead to..”Perspective is everything.” This is what I chose to use as the tagline for The View From My Window.

Tagline? What’s a tagline?Simply put, it’s a catchphrase or slogan which clarifies what you want to briefly say or portray to your audience. Basically, the tagline helps others see the bigger picture in a small way.

Yes, perspective is everything.

And this is why…

When I was twenty, I couldn’t wait to be thirty-something. When I was thirty, I was too busy to even realize I was thirty. When I hit forty, I often thought back to when I was twenty. Now that I’m fifty-something, I realize I’m aging and life moves on regardless of the decade.

The amazing paradox of it all, it took aging to actually make me feel young again. This is my perspective on: What fifty-something has taught me so far…

Faith requires a constant commitment. There’s no in-between.

I’ve learned to no longer ‘wear my feelings on my sleeve.’ I’m not the center of someone else’s universe.

I listen to my inner voice more often. My gut instinct is usually right.

A twenty-something may only see my wrinkles and that’s ok.

Life is too short for negativity…at any age.

Everyone has an opinion and it’s ok to agree to disagree.

Living with an autoimmune disease sucks but I’m still blessed with good health.

It’s possible to love your grandchildren as much, if not more, than your own children.

You won’t know if you don’t ask.

Singing out loud in the car is good for the soul.

Life has no purpose unless God is in the center of it.

Letting go of adult children doesn’t really mean ‘ letting go.’

Learning the meaning of death comes in many ways at any age.

Old friends become more important and new ones can become family.

Take nothing and no one for granted.

My battle scars have become my beauty marks.

The word ‘trending’ is overused.

Never eliminate adventure from life. Existing isn’t enough. Find a passion for a purpose.

It’s hard to tolerate ‘meanness’ but much easier to endure through forgiveness.

The language of laughter is essential in life.

This is just a list of twenty things I’ve learned in my fifty’s, but there are so many more. There’s no denying it. I’m aging. That’s a given. But the way I see it, there’s always going to be someone older and wiser. There will always be someone with wrinkles deeper than mine. But getting older is merely a state of mind. It’s not about the outward appearance but more about the person we become.

What are your thoughts on aging? Please share.

This fifty-something wants to know. 🙂

“The only thing standing between you and your goal is that massive leap of Faith.”

Like this:

Sixty seconds was all it took, for a 3-year-old boy to change a family outing to a possible unspeakable tragedy.

A mother with her son, along with three other children, were at the Cincinnati Zoo much like many other families that day. But like many of us, a moment of distraction changed everything.

The little boy slippedaway into the enclosure of a 450 pound gorilla, named Harambe. Can you imagine? Can you even fathom what this parent may have been feeling? Or are you one of the many who could care less about the mother and more about the gorilla?

Thankfully, the little boy was not seriously injured but the zoo suffered the loss of an amazing animal. Harambe was shot in order to protect the child.

Some were upset because the animal was shot. Others condemned the parents and lay blame on the mother. They became the center of criticism. The calls for criminal charges grew as the story unfolded.

“By all accounts, the mother did not act in a way where she presented this child to some harm,” said Hamilton County Prosecutor Joseph Deters. He continued to say,… “if anyone doesn’t believe a 3-year-old can scamper off very quickly, they’ve never had kids.”

As a Child Development Specialist with over twenty years of experience with children ages birth to school age, I know all too well the importance of safety to the well-being of a child. I also know and have witnessed parents/guardians who do not take parenting seriously. The fact is, there are many adults in this world who do not deserve to be parents, nor should be given legal rights to do so.

I completely understand the outrage of questions. Many have asked, “Where were the parents?” Let me assure you…Michelle Gregg, the mother of this child was there. She was fully engulfed as a mother would and should be. I’m sure when she planned the family outing, she had no intentions nor thought of such a horrifying incident could happen.

I completely understand how animal rights activists would be saddened by the decision to kill a completely innocent animal. I, too, hate to see any animal suffer for a cause.

I completely understand the mind of a young child. I know their curiosity. I know their defiance. I know their determination. I know their energy, their tactics and their meltdowns. I know how they think and it’s not that of an adult.

I GET IT! I COMPLETELY GET IT!

What I don’t understand is the judgemental accusations. I don’t understand the lack of respect. I don’t understand the “holier than thou” attitude. I don’t understand how the death of a gorilla is more important than the safety of a young child. I don’t understand the concept of kicking a person when they’re already down. I don’t understand why this mother was unworthy of compassion. I just don’t understand.

Many parents have had minor mishaps and major accidents with their children. Even the best of parents have lost their child in a crowded mall or busy theme park. Parenting does not come with a guideline or handbook to follow. Good parenting is not about not making mistakes. Good parents make mistakes. Parenting is not about how often we get things right but rather, learning when we get it wrong.

Some may think I am taking sides with the mother of this young child. I am not taking any side. I am merely stating facts and truly concerned with the way, we, as a people…have learned to quickly condemn those who falter, fail or fall through a life struggle. I am truly concerned that so many are quick to judge. I am truly concerned that compassion is no longer a recognized moral quality of our nation.

My thoughts go back to the verse in the Bible: Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12

May we, as a people, as a nation…begin to see people with compassion.

He that is without sin among you,let him first cast a stone at her.John 8:7

This is merely the view from my window. You are entitled to agree, disagree or merely be indifferent. I’m just opening the window to a personal view from where I see things. You are more than welcome to share your view. The window is open to all.

In the blink of an eye, everything can change. So we must ask ourselves what is really important in life; and then decide to move forward and build our lives around our answer. This is called making a difference.

If you could change one thing about the world in which we live, what would it be? and why?

You may be thinking to yourself, “What’s the point? I can’t possibly make a difference in a world of 7 billion.”

BUT YOU CAN!

The world may consist of 7 billion people but your world is much smaller. Your world is where you work, your school, friends, family, your neighborhood and even your own home. So,

If you could change one thing about the world in which you live, what would it be? and why?